Adjustable exhaust hood



July 23, 1963 A. J. GIANNINI ADJUSTABLE EXHAUST HOOD Filed Feb. 10, 1961 tats This invention relates to exhaust hood devices, and more particularly to an adjustable exhaust hood adapted to be employed over a kitchen range or in a similar location between two kitchen cabinets or similar objects.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved adjustable exhaust hood adapted to be installed between a pair of kitchen cabinets or similar objects, wherein the spacing between the cabinets or similar objects is variable, the improved exhaust hood being adjustable so as to fill the space between the kitchen cabinets or similar objects, being easy to install, and being relatively simple in construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable exhaust hood adapted to be installed over a kitchen range or in a similar location, the exhaust hood being inexpensive to fabricate, being neat in appearance, being durable in construction, and being adaptable for use either with a top vent duct or with a rear vent duct.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved exhaust hood for use over a kitchen range or in a similar location between a pair of kitchen cabinets or similar objects wherein the spacing between the cabinets or similar objects is variable, the exhaust hood device being adaptable for use either with or without an exhaust fan, being easy to adjust so that it will neatly fit into the designated space, and being readily adjustable over a wide range of spacings, so that it is not necessary for a dealer or distributor of such devices to carry a large inventory thereof, and eliminating the necessity for the manufacture of different specific sizes of exhaust hoods to be installed in respectively diflerent spaces.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View showing an improved adjustable exhaust hood constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the main components of the exhaust hood of FIGURE 1, shown in separated positions.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an exhaust hood constructed in accordance with the present invention. The exhaust hood 11 comprises an intermediate main section 12 consisting of a generally rectangular plate-like main body 13 which is formed with a circular central vent aperture 14 and which is formed with longitudinal slots 15 adjacent its corners. The plate-like main body 12, which may be of suitable sheet metal, such as stainless steel, or the like, is formed with a vertically depending rear flange 16 which is substantially coextensive in length with the plate-like main body 13 and which is formed at its intermediate portion with a longitudinally extending rectangular aperture 17 which may be employed to establish communication with a vent duct in the wall adjacent to the exhaust hood. The circular aperture 14 may similarly be employed to establish communication with a top vent duct extending vertically upwardly through the ceiling and roof.

integrally formed with the intermediate portion of the forward edge of the plate-like body 13 is a downwardly and forwardly inclined extension 18 which terminates at its front margin in a depending vertical flange 19, said 3-,08AZ3 Patented July 23, 1963 vertical flange being formed at its bottom edge with an inwardly projecting, upwardly facing guide channel 20. As shown in FIGURE 2, the forward extension 18 is of substantial width but is of lesser width than that of the main body 13, defining rectangular notches 21, 21 of substantial size.

Designated at 22, 22 are respective box-like side sections which are telescopically engageable in the opposite ends of the main section 12, each box-like side section 22 comprising a top wall 23 formed with a pair of longitudinal slots 24, 24 adjacent its longitudinal margins, said slots being spaced to register with a corresponding pair of longitudinal slots 15, 15 of the plate-like main body 13 of the intermediate section 12. Each box-like side section 22 is further formed with a depending rear flange 25 which is slightly offset forwardly with respect to the adjacent rear corner 26 of the section 22, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 2, defining a recess in which the rear flange 16 of the intermediate section 12 is receivable.

The side sections 22, 22 are made of sheet metal, similar to that employed for the intermediate section 12. The flanges 25 of the side sections are rearwardly offset by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the flange 16 of the intermediate section, so that said flange 16 will be flush with the corners 26 of the side sections, as is shown in FIGURE 1.

The side sections 23 are formed with the depending vertical side flanges 27 which have forwardly and inwardly inclined front extensions 28 merging with a forwardly and downwardly inclined front extension 29 of the top wall 23 and with the vertical depending front flange 30 provided at the front edge of the extension 29. Thus, each side section 23 is substantially the same in transverse cross sectional shape as the intermediate section 12 but is slightly smaller so that it will be telescopically received in the intermediate section with the bottom edges of the front flanges 30 of the side'sections slidably received in the' guide channel 20.

The side flanges 27 of the box-like adjustable side sections 22 are provided with apertures 31 through which suitable fastening screws or other fasteners may pass in order to secure the sides of the hood between a pair of kitchen cabinets or similar objects. The side sections 22 are secured in adjusted relationship with respect to the intermediate section 12 by suitable bolts 32 engaged through the registering slots 15 and 24 and provided with suitable clamping nuts 33, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The respective side sections 22 are formed at the intermediate portions of the inner edges of their top walls 23 with semicircular notches 34 which are registrable with the central opening 14 in the plate-like main section 13 of the intermediate member 12 when the box-like side sections 22 are adjusted inwardly to their innermost positions, for example, as shown in FIGURE 1. Similarly, the depending rear flanges 25 of the side sections 22 are formed with rectangular notches 35 which are adapted to substantially register with the rectangular rear vent opening 17 of the depending flange 16 when the box-like side sections 22 are adjusted to their innermost positions, shown in FIGURE 1.

As will be readily apparent, the box-like side sections 22 may be adjusted outwardly by a substantial amount, whereby the hood may be adjusted in size to fit in a wide range of spaces between kitchen cabinets or similar objects, making it easy to install the device in spaces of variable size and eliminating the necessity for a dealer or distributor to stock a large number of dilferent sizes of hoods to take care of different spacings which may be encountered. For example, the adjustable hood may be manufactured in two nominal sizes, for example, in a first size which covers a range of spaces between 24 inches and 36 inches, wherein the minimum length of the device is 24 inches, and in a second size to cover the range of spaces from 36 inches to 48 inches, wherein the minimum size of the device is 36 inches, but wherein it can be extended up to 48 inches in length.

Obviously, the device may be employed either with or without an exhaust fan, the details of the exhaust fan and its installation forming no part of the present invention.

As previously mentioned, rectangular notches 21 are defined between the front edges of the plate-like main body 13 and the forwardly extending member 18. The respective outer corner portions of the box-like side sections 22, 22 are exposed at said rectangular notches 21, as shown in FIGURE 1, allowing for the forward and inward taper of the side flange extensions 28, particularly where the device is adjusted to or near its minimum width.

While a specific embodiment of an improved adjustable exhaust hood has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A laterally expansible exhaust hood comprising a plate-like main body having a depending rear flange, said rear flange and said main body being formed with vent apertures, said main body having a depending straight front flange of substantially reduced width as compared with said main body, whereby to define respective notches adjacent the front corners of said main body, an upwardly facing guide channel projecting inwardly from the bottom edge of said front flange, a pair of box-like side sections telescopically engaged in the opposite end portions of said main body and having side portions exposed adjacent said notches, said side sections and main body being formed with registering longitudinal slots, said side sections having depending straight front flange portions slidably received in said guide channel, and bolt means extending through said registering slots and clampingly securing said side sections in laterally adjusted positions relative to said main body.

2. A laterally expansible exhaust hood comprising a plate-like main body having a depending rear flange, said rear flange and said main body being formed with vent apertures, said main body having a depending straight front flange of substantially reduced width as compared with said main body, whereby to define respective notches adjacent the front corners of said main body, an upwardly facing guide channel at the bottom edge of said front flange, a pair of box-like side sections telescopically engaged in the opposite end portions of said main body and having forwardly convergent side portions exposed adjacent said notches, said side sections and main body being formed with registering longitudinal slots, said side sections having depending straight front flange portions slidably received in said guide channel, and bolt means extending through said registering slots and clampingly securing said side sections in laterally adjusted positions relative to said main body.

3. A laterally expansible exhaust hood comprising a plate-like main body having a'depending rear flange, said rear flange and said main body being formed with vcnt apertures, said main body having a depending straight front flange of substantially reduced width as compared with said main body, whereby to define respective notches adjacent the front corners of said main body, an upwardly facing guide channel projecting inwardly from the bottom edge of said front flange, a pair of box-like side sections telescopically engaged in the opposite end portions of said main body and having side portions exposed adjacent said notches, said side sections having depending straight front flange portions slidably received in said guide channel, and means to secure said side sections in laterally adjusted positions relative to said main body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 499,210 Canavan June 13, 1893 1,686,617 Iuralewicz Oct. 9, 1928 2,016,431 Hofmann Oct. 8, 1935 2,500,037 Katz Mar. 7, 1950 2,993,428 .Wermager July 25, 1961 

1. A LATERALLY EXPANSIBLE EXHAUST HOOD COMPRISING A PLATE-LIKE MAIN BODY HAVING A DEPENDING REAR FLANGE, SAID REAR FLANGE AND SAID MAIN BODY FORMED WITH VENT APERTURES, SAID MAIN BODY HAVING A DEPENDING STRAIGHT FRONT FLANGE OF SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED WIDTH AS COMPARED WITH SAID MAIN BODY, WHEREBY TO DEFINE RESPECTIVE NOTCHES ADJACENT THE FRONT CORNERS OF SAI MAIN BODY, AN UPWARDLY FACING GUIDE CHANNEL PROJECTING INWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID FRON FLANGE, A PAIR OF BOX-LIKE SIDE SECTIONS TELESCOPICALLY ENGAGED IN THE OPPOSITE END POR- 